Click HERE for a map of Tikehau

Tikehau is one of the most beautiful atolls in French Polynesia, forming an almost unbroken circle of white sand and coral motus (islands) 16 miles across, which creates a unique ecosystem with the highest prevalence of fish of all the atolls. The beauty and abundance of its fauna account for the popularity of scuba diving, especially in the Tuheiava pass, where the manta rays' dance alternates with the parade of barracudas, tunas, multicolored coral fish, and the ubiquitous, but harmless, reef sharks.

This oval shaped atoll some 185 miles to the northwest of Tahiti, about 7 miles north of Rangiroa, has a large pass and a series of islets, the largest of which at the south west of the atoll, half a mile wide, is inhabited, and is where the airport is located. The charming village of Tuherahera is situated on the south end of this large motu which also has two other villages: Tuheiava, a fishing area with many "fish parks" that supply the markets of Tahiti, and Maiaia on the other large motu on the northeast that is a traditional copra producer (Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. The name copra is derived from the Malayalam word koppara for dried coconut). This atoll offers the wonderful opportunity to discover the traditional Tuamotu way of life.

One of the most beautiful atolls in Polynesia also is home to many bird colonies that have sought refuge in the small islands scattered in the lagoon.